Celebrate "Opportunity!!!"

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity," and its first chapter is New Year's Day. - Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Happy New Year, everyone! May your book be full of "Opportunities" in 2010!!!

Home for Christmas

I love everything about the holidays...always have. I love walking the streets and looking at the window dressings and street decor. And even though, I haven't done it in a very long time, I love a good parade with Santa at the end. I love the scents and flavors of the season. I love to watch children perusing the toy department, and I love their infectious giggles when they are delighted. And, I love to be at home decorating and listening to holiday tunes new and old, a fire in the fireplace, and candles lit. This quote seems to sum it up for me......

I decided to simplify my Christmas decor this year. I have been on this burlap kick lately (check out prior post of Christmas stockings), so I pulled out my garden burlap netting, jute, and ball chain from the hardware store, glass glitter (you just have to love this stuff!), and my thrift shop finds during the year to get creative. And so it began....

I bought this container at a thrift shop for pennies, put my topiaries in, and intertwined gold ball chain throughout the ivy. I placed it on one of my favorite handmade lace runners.

And, my tree ornaments were very simple this year.......

I took my seastars and tied them on the tree with jute string.

For the glass-glitter stars.....

I used plastic stars from a long-forgotten project, spray painted them all out white, used spray adhesive, and applied the glitter. I used the jute string, again, to attached it to the tree.

And, because this old silver belt....

that I bought at a thrift shop had "star" quality, I took it apart and made individual ornaments.

I used the burlap netting as garland in the tree.

And, at the bottom of the tree.....

I placed a vintage, white chenille bedspread with an overlay of burlap netting. I added a few pinecones I gathered in the forest (had to put a bit of glass glitter on those!)

And, of course, I had to paint a picture for our Christmas cards.........

this year. It is our beloved Gracie, "Daching the Halls" on the boardwalk!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

My Blog Hiatus

My blog hiatus was not something that I had planned. But as the hours and days seemed to "fill-up" this last month, it became evident that something was going to have to give. And, therein, lies the problem ........I enjoy just too many things! Don't want to give anything up! So bear with me, my Followers, and fellow bloggers as I try to find "balance." I know many of you out there who are reading this are smiling and saying to yourselves, "been there, done that." I read it in your blog posts time after time. And, I am sure you will read it, again and again, in my future postings. I found a quote (author unknown) that I adore and seems to explain just how life seems to go for me, "To live is so startling, it leaves little time for anything else." I hope life continues to be startling! Here are just a few of the fun things that kept it "startling" for me this month.....

I made my daughter and son-in-law a few euro-shams and decorating pillows for their new master bedroom. I think drapes and a repurposed chandelier are on the agenda too!



My husband and I took a lovely walk with some wonderful friends in a beautiful forest. I love the cathedral feel and look captured in this photo.

We took a drive on a cool, crisp day to enjoy the vineyards in their Autumn splendor!
The colors were amazing!

And.....we began working on a new antique space. My husband set the porch posts in the urns in cement. I applied a crackle finish to the posts, and we added vintage curtain rods......

Some pretty lace curtains, gardening burlap and rope trim on the wall (who knew it could be so lovely!), coir door mats on the floor, and the space is coming along......

I still have many more items to add, but, as I mentioned, the space is coming along quite nicely. The "Highway 41 Antique Emporium" is located in Morro Bay in the Miner's Retail Complex. When it is completely filled, it will be 12,000 sq. ft. of shopping "bliss!" Opening day will be here very soon!

Have a wonderful evening everyone! I hope we all continue to have "startling" lives.